New pro needs album advice

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Archive 2009 · New pro needs album advice

koppie1
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p.1 #1 · New pro needs album advice

Hey all!

I'm doing my first two albums (for different clients) and I need advice. The first album will be in the $100 range. I know that's rather low end. I'm trying to decide between Shutterfly and Asuka Book. The benefit with Shutterfly is I can get their top of the line and throw in a couple in-law books for the price. With Asuka Book I'd be getting a low end book, probably Book Bound Hard Cover Laminate.

The question: is the Asuka book really that much better? They both use 100-lb coated paper. They both offer hard bound with full bleed printing and templates to help me do layout. With Shutterfly it seems like I'm getting more bang for my buck, but I suspect there's more than meets the eye here.

Any advice from the pros?

Thanks,
--Jordan Koplowicz

Nov 10, 2009 at 12:58 AM

TRReichman
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p.1 #2 · New pro needs album advice

I frankly hate Asukabook, but I don't know much about Shutterfly and assumed they were lower end. Maybe look around some more, I wouldn't wish Asuka on anyone - had years of bad service/quality before I kicked the habit.

Nov 10, 2009 at 01:00 AM

lindabrowne
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p.1 #3 · New pro needs album advice

$100 client cost or your cost? Have you discussed the size and amount of pages with these clients or are looking for info on the albums first?

www.blackriverimaging.com and www.millerslab.com

There is no benefit to Shutterfly. None. Three bad albums do not equal one quality one.

Nov 10, 2009 at 01:02 AM

Brad Barr
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p.1 #4 · New pro needs album advice

The benefit with Shutterfly is I can get their top of the line and throw in a couple in-law books for the price.
Throw in for $100.00

Ummmmm the idea of being a pro is not doing the above.

Linda said it right....black river imaging has a great product for the price as well.
bb

Nov 10, 2009 at 01:11 AM

Inku Yo
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p.1 #5 · New pro needs album advice

Not going to get a quality album for $100.

Nov 10, 2009 at 01:14 AM

RichardLavigne
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p.1 #6 · New pro needs album advice

I'm very happy with the leather deluxe book by Mypublisher for our lower end album/book option... but I think they are out of your $100 range.

Nov 10, 2009 at 01:33 AM

koppie1
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p.1 #7 · New pro needs album advice

Thanks for your advice everyone. I clearly have a lot to learn about being a pro.

This was from my first pro gig and I forgot to get them to sign an agreement ahead of time so they dithered for three years on the album. Finally I agreed to do a "barter" exchange with them; they're giving me something worth about $100 (maybe a little more). Obviously that was my first mistake; I won't do another wedding without (a) getting an agreement on an album and (b) signing a contract ahead of time.

But here I am and I want to do as good a job as I can under the circumstances. Thanks for your advice, I can't use MyPublisher because I don't have a Mac. Thanks for the warnings about Asukabook and Shutterfly . . . why exactly do those places suck? What makes Black River and Miller's Lab better?

Thanks again for the valuable advice.

Nov 10, 2009 at 08:40 AM

jprezant
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p.1 #8 · New pro needs album advice

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a "pro" offering an album for under $500. I would
bet that most albums from the pros on this board are closer to 1k than 500.

Nov 10, 2009 at 08:46 AM

Mr645
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p.1 #9 · New pro needs album advice

I have been happy with Millers for my low end books, clones, giveaways etc.

Nov 10, 2009 at 01:09 PM

dcphoto
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p.1 #10 · New pro needs album advice

I know it will sound incredible, or even ridiculous, but Ritz Camera just started offering 16 page full bleed lay-flat and almost seam-less (with thicker page) photo books for $70.
I hate to admit it, but they're REALLY good quality, and will suck for a lot of photogs offering things on the low-end, as average customers can make them. But check them out if you want something cheap and good. I held one in my hand and shook my head in disbelief.

Nov 10, 2009 at 01:56 PM

gravygraffix
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p.1 #11 · New pro needs album advice

i thought they went out of BIZ.... ritz....

Nov 10, 2009 at 02:48 PM

RichardLavigne
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p.1 #12 · New pro needs album advice

I am pretty sure that you can use mypublisher with both mac and pc.. It used to come built into the macs, but you can still dl the program straight from their website.

Honestly.. I think you should talk to the couple. To me, it doesn't sound like you did any of this the way a "Pro" would. It sounds like you did this for some friends and if that's the case I think you should do your due diligence and research some book options and then present them to the couple so they can make a choice on their own. Then if you are battering, they cover the cost of the book and give you the $100 item as payment. If they are fair, reasonable people... Then everything should be fine. In this case, your lack of signed agreement is helping you here because you aren't locked into providing them with some product that is obviously more than $100 for less than $100.

Nov 10, 2009 at 03:01 PM

Photo197726
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p.1 #13 · New pro needs album advice

I would look at White House Custom Color (www.whcc.com) - search this forum for albums as well. This topic has been discussed ad nauseam.

Nov 10, 2009 at 03:43 PM

Cole Cauffman
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p.1 #14 · New pro needs album advice

I would stay away from Shutterfly for a professional album. I have a few books made through Shutterfly before I went pro of my daughter. They are alright, but they do have Shutterfly written all over the book, literally. I know I wouldn't feel confidant handing something over with another companies name on it...

I second White House Custom Color. I've used them for a few professional albums and they are great!

Nov 10, 2009 at 04:05 PM

koppie1
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p.1 #15 · New pro needs album advice

Ritz is still around. They used to have half a dozen stores in my town (San Francisco) and now they have one. They have a demo photo book in the store so I will go check it out, although the prices are far lower than anything else I'm considering.

Leather Craftsmen and Black River bottom out at around $150 for a "real," full-size album. Haven't heard back from Miller's yet. I may take Richard's advice and talk to the couple, see if they're willing to upgrade their offer. Alternatively WHCC looks like they have a nice option and evidently are highly praised. I've noticed that the more expensive albums have the thicker cardboard-like pages but I don't think it'll be possible to do that for $100. WHCC may be my best bet at this point.

Nov 10, 2009 at 06:23 PM

lindabrowne
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p.1 #16 · New pro needs album advice

koppie1 wrote:
Ritz is still around. They used to have half a dozen stores in my town (San Francisco) and now they have one. They have a demo photo book in the store so I will go check it out, although the prices are far lower than anything else I'm considering.

Leather Craftsmen and Black River bottom out at around $150 for a "real," full-size album. Haven't heard back from Miller's yet. I may take Richard's advice and talk to the couple, see if they're willing to upgrade their offer. Alternatively WHCC looks like they have a nice option and evidently are highly praised. I've noticed that the more expensive albums have the thicker cardboard-like pages but I don't think it'll be possible to do that for $100. WHCC may be my best bet at this point.

What you need at this price point are the printed press books with lay flat pages. They have a nice heavy weight page and BRI, Millers and WHCC all do them very well. BRI takes top preference, though. Going for standard pages instead of flat might be a trade off for a larger album.

You are right, even sample lower end flush mount albums are a lot more of an investment.

Nov 10, 2009 at 06:50 PM

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